Landowners a challenge for border fence deadline

[struggle4progress]

Whether land is bought or seized, a lot of work is still needed to finish barrier on time

By JAMES PINKERTON
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Government auditors warned Congress this week that the Department of Homeland Security will be "challenged" to complete 670 miles of border fencing by a mandated December deadline, since scores of Texas landowners still refuse to allow surveyors on their property ...

Some of the proposed pedestrian fencing in the Rio Grande Valley — where 70 miles is planned — cuts across the University of Texas campus in Brownsville, as well as private birding reserves, federal wildlife sanctuaries and state parks ...

The head of the National Border Patrol Council, a union representing non-supervisory agents, characterized the border fence as one of the "phony little measures" proposed by the Bush administration.

"To me, the larger question is: Even if they finish it, is it going to make our border more secure?" said council president T.J. Bonner. "If you look at the experience in the San Diego sector, which has more fencing per linear mile than any other part of the border, the traffic and apprehensions are increasing." ...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5602956.html

[Demeter]

1. The Lesser Wall of Bush

It can't possibly hold a candle to the Great Wall of China, or the Berlin Wall, or the Wailing Wall, or even Walla Walla, WA.

So tell me again, why are we building this stupid wall, if corporations can employ illegals without penalty?

[struggle4progress]

2. Reasons we are building the wall: (1) It sends public money to companies that will

support Republicans; (2) It increases the deficit and the debt, part of the Republican strategy of bankrupting the Federal government; (3) Republicans like poking a sharp stick in the eye of South Texas, as a place with waaay too many Democrats; (4) It won't actually have any effect on immigration, so companies who want to depress wages by hiring easily-deported workers aren't upset by it; (5) After hearing about the Wall, uninformed xenophobic idiots want to vote for Republicans